Knee pillow



ept. 0, 1957 c. sPELLos 2,805,420

. KNEE PILLOW Filed Jan. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Shes}. 1

lii iiiilii IN V EN TOR.

ANNE C. SPELLos Sept. 10, 1957 A. c. SPELLOS 2,305,420

KNEE PILLOW Filed Jan. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent KNEE PILLOW Anne C. Spellos, New York, N. Y.

Application January 21, 1955, Serial No. 483,347 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-24 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in knee pads for household, garden or industrial work or for other activities and play necessitating kneeling.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved knee pad which can be made easily and inexpensively and which will snugly fit in proper place both in kneeling and in other positions of the wearer.

Still further, the present invention proposes an improved method of constructing a waterproof knee pad which will permit substantially all the construction to be done in one operation.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the knee pad with waterproof cover and a foam or sponge rubber pad normally neatly held in the cover and firmly and tightly held when the pad is strapped to a wearers knee.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the knee pad with a rigid reinforcing plate disposed between the resilient block and the front cover panel of the cover.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a person wearing a pair of knee pads constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the knee pad cover turned inside out.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but taken from a different angle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the front panel alone.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the knee pad shown in the first four figures.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view :of the knee pad shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is -a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the rear cover panel, side panel and straps of the pad showing one stage or step in the construction.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 8 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is an end view partly in section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 9 'but illustrating still another modification of the present invention.

The waterproof knee pad, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.

Knee pad 1 has a cover 2 consisting of a front cover panel 3, a rear cover panel 4 and a side wall panel 5.

The cover is filled with resilient material such as sponge or foam rubber to form a block or pad 6. The cover 2 is of a. size such that it will cover the kneecap of a person when the person is standing and will cover the portion of the knee on which a person kneels when that person is kneeling. 1

A pair of elastic straps 7 and 8 have ends 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 which are connected to the rear cover panel 4 and side wall panel 5 by stitches 13. The strap 7 is adapted to fit below the kneecap and is shorter than strap 8 which is adapted to fit above the kneecap. Straps 7 and 8 may be made with adjustable clips (not shown) or may be made in large, medium and small sizes. 'If not made adjustable, strap 8 preferably should be an inch or an inch and a quarter longer than strap 7. 1

Side wall panel 5 preferably is bias cut and stitched together along side seam 14. Side wall panel 5, however, may be made of a straight piece of material if one wishes to save on material.

To construct the knee pad 1,.elastic straps 7 and 8 are laid flat on the outer face of the rear cover panel 4 extending in parallel relation across the panel. Straps 7 and 8 have their central portions doubled and secured by pins 14' so that they will lay flat on the rear cover panel 4. Side wall panel 5 is then secured to the rear cover panel and to the elastic straps 'by stitching or otherwise securing peripheral portions of the panels 4 and 5 together. The front cover panel 3 is then secured to the side wall panel 5 the same as rear cover panel 4, as by stitching or otherwise securing peripheral portions of the panels 3 and 5 together, except that there is left an opening 3 large enough to turn the cover or assembly inside out. The case is then turned inside out and the pad 6 is inserted through theopening 3'. The opening 3' is closed after the pad is inside the cover and the upper and lower marginal edges of the cover are stitched all around to give the product a finished look as is indicated best in Fig. 6. The pins 14 are then removed from the straps 7 and '8 to produce the knee pad 1.

The knee pad may be'worn over slacks, as well as with shorts, skirts or other garments; For use in gardening it is preferable to wear the knee pad under slacks to prevent sand, dirt and grit from enteringbetween the knee and the knee pad and hurt the knee.

The waterproof knee pad, in accordance with the next form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, is designated generally by the reference numeral 15.

Knee pad 15 has a rectangular block 16 of resilient material such as foam or sponge rubber. Pad 15 is adapted to cover the kneecap of a person when the person is standing and to cover the portion of the knee on which a person kneels when the person is kneeling.

Block 16 is encased in a front cover panel 17, a rear cover panel 18 and a side wall cover panel 19. The front and rear cover panels 17 and 18 are larger in area than the faces 20 and 21 of block 16, so as to allow for seams.

A pair of elastic straps 22 and 23 have :ends 24 and 25 and 26 and 27 connected to the rear cover panel 18 and the side wall cover panel 19. Strap 22 is adapted to fit over a persons leg above the knee (i. e. above the bend line at the rear of the knee) and the strap 23 is adapted to fit similarly below the knee or knee bend line.

The front and rear cover panels are adapted snugly to cover block 16 when the pad is not secured to a persons leg by straps 22 and 23. When the pad is so secured, the straps 22 and 23 pull the front cover even more taut over the face 20 of block 16. This results in a firm fit on the wearers leg and keeps the pad securely in place regardless of the activities of the wearer.

Front and rear cover panels 17 and 18 are rectangular in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10, in

' elusive, and-the side wall panel 19 is a straight out stripproper length from a strip of elastic or other material and placed on the reverse side 33 of the rear cover panel 18 ;with the ends of the straps adjacent the periphery of'the panel 18. The center portions of the straps 22 and 23 are doubled together sufficiently to make the ends of the straps lie flatly adjacent the periphery of panel 18 and the center portions are secured, so doubled, temporarily by safety pins 34 or other means to the panel 18. v V p 7 V The marginal portions of the sidewall panel 19 and rear cover panel 18 are joined together on their reverse sides with the ends of straps 22 and 23 secured therebetween in the same operation by stitches fastening means. I

' The side wall panel 19. and rear cover panels 18 are 35 or other like then turned right side out and the resilient block 16 is placed in the panel 19 and on the. panel 18. The free marginal portions of'the side wall panel 19 are then secured to the front cover panel 17 to encase the block 16.

Then the center portions ofstraps 22 and 23 are freed by removing the safety pins.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11

and 12 is characterized by the provision of front and rear cover panels. 42 and 43 peripherally connected together by stitches 44 with straps of elastic 45 and 46 secured ,therebetween and with shredded felt clippings, or cotton or thelike 47 stuffed between the two cover panels 42 and 43 to fill the covers completely and fully. There is no side piece in this form of the invention, only the two cover panels. This saves considerably on material and work and makes a much less expensive product.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 13 is characterized by the provision of a front cover panel 48, a rear cover panel 49, a side wall panel 50, a resilient block 51 and a rigid reinforcing plate 52. The front cover panel is peripherally secured to the side wall panel andthe rear cover panel 49 is likewisesecured to side wall panel 50; The reinforcing plate is disposed between theblock 51 and the front cover panel 48. Straps 53 4 (only one being shown) are provided and their ends are secured to the rear cover panel 49 and side wall panel 50.

It is to be understood that the various fabric panels may be made of canvas or any other suitable soft waterproof material, or a soft Water proof plastic sheet may be used for forming the various panel members which may be of any desired size to suit the wearers neededs.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim. V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A waterproof knee pad comprising a block of resilient material adapted to cover a kneecap, a front cover panel and a rear cover panel of waterproof material, said cover panels being larger in area thansaid block,.and a pair of straps having ends connected with one of said cover panels, one of said straps being adapted to fit over a persons leg above the knee and the other of said straps being adapted similarly to fit below the knee, said cover panels being adapted'snutgly to cover said block when the pad is not secured over a persons knee by said straps and adapted more tightly to cover said block when the pad is so secured, said pad having front and rear oval faces,'and a side wall cover panel between said front and rear cover panels peripherally secured thereto, said side wall panel beinga bias cut strip having ends joined together with an inner seam, said front and rear cover panels being 'secured to said side wall panel by upper and lower seams, one of said upper and lower seams being an inner seam and the other beingan outer seam, said straps being elastic and having their ends secured to one of the cover panels at the inner seam securing the side wall panel to said cover panel.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,808 Burnett et a1 Nov. 7, 1922 2,423,849 Patterson July '15; 1947 2,603,786 Haines July 22, 1952 

